Tent construction



March 10, 1959 I E. E AMES 2,876,783

TENT consmucnou, Filed April 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. VWARV BANE:

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'IIENT CONSTRUCTION Fiied April 16, 1954 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. I 'EVWARV, c. AME-"a Wm W ATTORNEYS Harris Neville Co., San Francisco, Calif, a corporation of California Application April 16, 1954, Serial No. 423,716 1 Claim. (Cl. 135-3) This invention relates to a new and improved tent construction.

The present invention has particular reference to that class of tent structures which are frequently referred to as pyramidal tents. Tents of this category are characterized as comprising a generally pyramidal- United States Patent shaped peak or roof portion supported centrally by a tent pole, and having a rectangular base stitched or otherwise attached to four depending walls, the line of juncture between the base of the roof portion and the walls being referred to hereinafter as the cave line.

In the past, there have been proposed various ways for,v

supporting and reinforcing pyramidal tents of the general type mentioned above. For example, so called umbrella type tents utilize a center pole in conjunction with a sleeve mounted slidably on the center pole carrying four pivotally mounted umbrella arms which, in turn, project toward and into engagement with the four corners of the tent for supporting the tent around its eave line. Although umbrella type tents provide certain advantages in rapidity and ease of tent erection, the umbrella arms which function to support the tent at its eave line also inherently restrict the available head room inside the tent. In short, even though the center peak or roof portion of the tent may extend upwardly substantially higher than the height of the eave line, the available head room inside of the tent is effectively restricted to I the approximate height of the cave line by the substantially horizontal umbrella arms.

Another prior art method of supporting or reinforcing the eave line of pyramidal tents is to provide a series of exterior guy ropes extending from the eave line to anchoring stakes driven into the earth. Although the use of such guy ropes does not place a restriction upon the interior head room of the tent, this system of tent erection is both cumbersome'and time consuming. Moreover, the use of guy ropes to reinforcethe eave line in the manner above explained also results in the creation of an exterior rope barricade extending around the four sides of the tent which is not only unsightly, but constitutes an obstacle to pedestrian movement around the tent.

The particular embodiment of the present invention, which is illustrated in the drawings and which will be described hereinafter in greater detail, comprises essentially a rectangular frame positioned interiorly of the tent in contiguous reinforcing position around the cave line thereof. In the preferred embodiment, the frame comprises four lengths of wood fabricated and notched so that the frame pieces can be readily collapsibly assembled in such manner that they will function to maintain the rectangular eave line of the tent tautly distended and reinforced.

A novel feature of the invention is that in assembling the pieces into a frame structure inside the tent, the pieces can be manipulated in such way as to forcibly stretch the canvas material around the cave line to taut condition and to eliminate sag or slack in the material.

Patented Mar. 10, 1959 A principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a pyramidal tent structure which incorporates unique interior eave line reinforcing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a pyramidal tent structure, a rectangular frame eave line reinforcing structure which permits unrestricted use of available head room within the tent and which does not require the use of exterior guy ropes or the like for reinforcing the eave line as found in certain prior art structures.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a collapsible rectangular frame comprising four notched mterfitting pieces which, when properly assembled, will function to provide interior reinforcement around the cave line of the tent and to maintain the tent material in tensioned or taut condition.

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide a novel rectilinear reinforcing frame of the character briefly mentioned above and which can be maintained in assembling the pieces together so as to cause the tent material to be stretched to taut condition around its eave line, with comparatively little human effort required.

Further objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a tent embodying the invention showing portions thereof broken away in secsociated receiving pocket in exploded relationship.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the tent construction with portions thereof shown broken away.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the tent structure therein illustrated is shown as comprising a generally pyramidal-shaped center peak or roof portion 10 having a rectangular base which, in turn, is stitched in conventional fashion to depending front, rear and side wall sections indicated at 11, 12, 13 and 14, respectively. The line of juncture between roof portion 10 and the wall sections 11-14 is indicated at 16 and will be referred to hereinafter as the eave line" of the tent.

The tent structure is adapted to be supported in more or less conventional fashion by means of a center pole 17 having a pointed upper end 18 adapted to be projected in a reinforced opening or aperture 19 formed in the center of roof portion 10. The bottom edges of wall members 11-14 are shown as being provided with a rope-reinforced hem 21 to which stake rings 22 are secured, and through which conventional stakes 23 can be driven into the ground.

As indicated above, the present invention has particular reference to novel means for interiorly reinforcing the tent around its eave line 16. Referring particularly to Fig. 2, there is disclosed a rectangular reinforcing frame, indicated generally at 24, in conjunction with four frame member receiving pockets indicated at 26 26 26 and 26. The frame structure 24 in its preferred embodiment comprises more specifically a pair of substantially identically formed parallel side members 27 and 28 and a pair supporting position centrally 'of-the tent. -pole toits upright position shown in the dra "spec: toend piece 29.

ga'ged within transverse groove 33* 3 atpar'anu end members 29 and 31, respectively. Frame members 27 and 28 are shown as each comprisin g a solid straight wood piece, the inner surface of which is formed with a pair of transverse grooves located adjacent the end extremities of each piece and indicated at 32*F- 32hand 33 -33: in the drawings. End pieces29 and 31 may similarly comprise straight wood pieces, each being formed with end cut outs or notches as indicated at 34*- 34 and 36 -36. Preferably, the stools out of :which ;end pieces '29 and 31 are formed is substantially thicker than the stock out of which side piec es 27 and 28 are madeso that the channel-shaped end notches in pieces 29 and 31 can be made large enough to receive and embrace pieces 27 and 28 in a manner to be described here- ;inafter. As will more fully hereinafter appear in assem- 'bly, the end notches formed in end pieces 29 and 31 are adapted to engage within the transverse grooves formed -;in side pieces 27 and 28 to prevent displacement of the frame members when properly positioned to reinforce theeave line of the tent.

, The frame member receiving pockets 25 maybe formed pf heavy canvas or similar fabric material which can be ,readily stitched to the fabric of the tent structure itself. It is observed that the openings in oppositely disposed corner pockets extend toward one another to receive opposite end extremities of the side frame pieces 27 and 28.

In erecting a tent structure embodying thepresent invention, it is desirable to first stake out the base of the tent in conventional fashion utilizing stake rings 22 in conjunctionwith conventional stakes 23. After the base has been anchored, the center pole 17 may be inserted through the roof aperture 19 and the pole moved to its upright Raising of the wings will, of

course, elevate the entire tent structure off the ground and raise the center peak ofroof portion 10 to its maxi- -mum-height. In this latter condition of assembly, the

roof portion 10 including the eave line 16 will be unreinforced and will therefore'drape or sag downwardly around the tent pole.

v To insert the reinforcing frame 24 around the cave line, an operator, working from the inside of the tent, will first insert the end extremities of side frame piece 27- in pockets'26 and 26 and the end extremities of side piece 28 within pockets 26 and 26*. The end pieces 29 and 31 may then be positioned and engaged one at a time with the side pieces. Thus, for example, notch-34- of end piece 29 may be initially interfitted with transversegroove 32 'formed in side piece 27. Thereupon, end notch 34 of piece 29 can be engaged with side piece 28 at-any point along the length of side piece'and slidably moved along the length of said side piece until notch 34 -engag'es-wifl in transverse groove 33".

'Positioning of end piece 31 may then be accomplished in substantially the identical manner described with f'e- More specifically and by way of example, end notch 36 of piece 31 may be initiallyenof side piece 28.

Thence, end notch 36 of end piece-31 may be manipucloth material defining the eave line of the tent to-stretch to taut condition during assembly of the frame pieces to one another inside the tent and in the manner above described. In particular and as above noted, by first engaging one notched end of each end piece with an associated groove of a side piece and-then forcefully sliding the second notched end of the end piece along the second side piece, the latter is, in effect, forcefully cammed outwardly to spread position, consequently causing the tent material to stretch to taut condition.

As indicated earlier, another advantageous feature of the invention isth a t the "rectangular frame for reinforcing the eave line of the tent does not restrict or 'interfe're'with the'available head room inside'thetent,

Although the present invention has been de's'crib'edin some detail by way of illustration and example, it is understood that certain changes and modifications maybe made within the spirit of the invention as limited only by the scope of the claim appended hereto.

I claim: V y

In a tent structure of the type incorporating a generally pyramidal-shaped roof portion supported by a center pole and a rectangular frame joined to depending wall members; and a rectangular frame reinforcing the interior periphery of the walls to define are'ctangular'eav'e liri'e; thecombination of said-frame having a pair of spaced, parallel side pieces, and a pairf'of spaced, parallel'end ,pieces; the inner lengthwisesurface of each side piece formed withfa pair of transverse-grooves adjacent the end extremities of said piece; each :end of each end pie'ce formed witha channel-shapednotch'proportioned t'o's'lidably embrace the bodyportion 'of an associated side piece and to engage within an associated groove of said side piece, whereby in assembly the fir'stnotched endof each end piece may be engaged in an associated groove ofa first side piece and the'second notched end of each end piece may be slidably engaged with the central body portion of a second side piece and forcibly slidably moved lengthwise of said'isecond s'ide'piece toward and intoengagement with an associated transverse groove thereof to cause the tent material to be stretched tautly at its eave line.

References cited in the fite'o'f disperse: Us no-STATES IPA-TENTS 1,449,639 I Mii'ehleisn'et a1 Mar. 27,1923 1,507,003 Schaefer Sept. 2, 1 924 1,669,778 Proctor Mar. 15, 1928 2,611,906 Backer Sept. 30, 1952 

